Toy holder



TOY HOLDER z Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1963 R m E V m 34 5TEPHE/V I Smewm BY 32 W ,w. $46M H T TORNE Y June 14, 1966 5. J. SALAYKA TOY HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 30, 1963 INVENTOR. 5TEPHEN I SHLHYKH BY M44 3,255,552 TOY HOLDER Stephen J. Salayka, 103 Berry St., Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,464 9 Claims. (Cl. 46 228) This invention relates to a toy holder, and more particularly to a toy holder adapted to be worn by the user of the toy. In the embodiments of toy holder disclosed herein the holder is particularly adapted to retain a string operated toy such as an ordinary ground-supported spinning top or an aerial top such as that sold under the trademark Yo-Yo in position for immediate removal from the holder and in condition for immediate use.

The storage or holding of string operated toys such as string operated ground-supported and aerial tops presents ditficulties, particularly because of the operating string wound upon the toy. In order for the toy to be used successfully, the string must be wound in a regular manner thereon and retained under controlled tension. Aerial tops are frequently wound, the aerial tops then being stored in the users pocket. The exposed end of the string of the aerial top is apt to become tangled with other articles in the pocket. The desired tensioning of the string is lost, and the aerial top becomes marred, dirty or otherwise defaced. 'Furthenthe aerial top is diflicult to remove from the pocket in condition for immediate use; unless the aerial top has been wound immediatefy therebefore, it must be further wound to some extent, and the wound string tensioned satisfactorily before the aerial top can be used.

The toy holder of the present invention, which as indicated, is particularly advantageous when employed in connection with an aerial top such as a Yo-Yo, overcomes the above outlined difficulties in the storage of such toy in wound condition. The holder of the present invention presents a seat wherein the aerial top is stably retained, the seat being open ended whereby the aerial top can be quickly withdrawn therefrom. In the preferred illustrative embodiments of aerial top holder herein, the seat is provided with means for preventing escape of the aerial top in either direction along its axis of rotation, and

' is also provided with means for preventing escape of the aerial top from the seat in a direction at right angles to such axis except as a result of a deliberate top withdrawing motion by the user. The holder of the invention, in

. preferred embodiments thereof, provides means whereby the manually gripped portion of the operating string at the outer ends thereof is retained in position to be quickly engaged by a portion, such as a finger, of the same hand of the user which grips the aerial top and removes it from the holder.

The holder of the invention thus provides means for retaining the aerial top in position for immediate use, and incorporates means for extending the-outer end of the string and for placing the hand-engaging formation thereon in position for immediate gripping by the hand, as well as means for maintaining the string wound upon the aerial top under a desired appreciable tension. In the embodiments shown, the holder is provided with means for supporting it upon the person of the user. The holder is shown as being of a holster-like shape, although the invention is not limited thereto. In alternative embodiments of the holder disclosed herein, means are provided for signal-' ling the presence of the top in the holder or .its removal therefrom.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel holder for a string operated toy.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a holder for a toy such as an aerial top, the holder being adapted to be worn by the user of the toy and to present United States Patent C) "ice 2 the toy, inoperative condition, for instant withdrawal from the holder.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of a holder for a top having an operating string with a finger engaging loop at its outer end, the holder providing means for extending the loop in position immediately toreceive a finger of the same hand of the operator with which the body of the top is gripped.

Yet another object of the invention, in certain embodiments thereof, is the provision of a holder and for an aerial top, such holder being provided with a signalling device which indicates when the top is positioned in the holder and when it has been removed therefrom.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of a top holder of the type indicated which is provided with means which indicates the exact instant at which the top is removed from the holder.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

' FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic view on a reduced scale of a boy wearing a holder for an aerial top in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation on an enlarged scale of the top holder shown in FIG. 1, the view being taken in the direction from left to right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in end elevation of the top holder, the view being taken from the point of view of the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a view in top plan of the top holder of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the top and its operating string positioned on the holder being shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 5 is a view in generally vertical section through a first illustrative embodiment of top holder made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the circuit device of FIG. 5 whereby the presence of a top in the holder and its absence therefrom is indicated by a visual signalling mechanism; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of a modification of the signalling device of FIGS. 5 and 6.

As will be evident from the above, three embodiments of top holder in accordance with the invention are illustrated herein. FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, show the basic holder of the invention. In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is shown a holder for an aerial top generally similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, but with the addition thereto of a signalling device'whereby the presence of a top in the holder and its absence therefrom are indicated. FIG. 7

illustrates an alternative construction of signalling device;

such signalling device instead of extinguishing a signal light when the top is removed from the holder, as in FIG. 5, illuminates a signal light upon such removal of the top from the holder.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, the aerial top holder there shown, which is generally of the same shape as the holster for a pistol, is generally designated by the reference character 10. The lower portion of such holder, which is generally designated 11, has spaced generally parallel inner and outer vertical walls (FIG. 3) which are joined by a straight forward wall and by a curved rear wall (FIG. 2). The bottom of the holder is closed by a portion 12 which is in the form of a portion of a circular cylindrical tube. Above the upper end of portion 11 of the holder the outer sidewall thereof is curved outwardly at 13 to join the upper portion 15 of the outer sidewall, as

Patented June 14 1966 shown in FIG. 3. The upper inner sidewall portion 115 is a prolongation of the said lower portion of the inner sidewall. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper portion 14 of the body of the holder is completed by a straight forward Wall 16 and a rear wall 17, the upper portion of which is parallel to wall 16 and the lower portion of which is curved as shown to merge with the concave rear wall of the lower portion of the holder.

The holder is provided with means in the form of a clip 18 whereby it may be attached to the belt or waistband of the trousers of the user. It will be apparent that the holder may be attached in other manners to the person of the user, such as by being provided with a harness whereby it may be positioned as a shoulder holster.

At its upper end the holder 10 is providedwith a partcylindrical seat 19 the radius of which preferably at least slightly exceeds the radius of the central, largest diametered portions of the aerial top. Laterally centrally of the seat 19 the holder is provided with an upstanding central flange 20 having a part-cylindrical recess 21 centrally thereof.

The body of the aerial top, indicated generally by the reference character 22, is supported in the seat 19 in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The top 22 may be made up of two similar body portions 24 which are joined and retained in laterally spaced position by a central spindle 25. The top 22 has an opera-ting string 26 the inner portion of which is secured to spindle 25 by a loop loosely embracing the spindle, the string when wound upon the spindle 25 of the top being disposed thereon in a plurality of coils generally designated 27. The outer end of string 26 is conventionally provided with a finger-engaging loop 29 therein. The holder'of the invention provides means whereby such loop 29 is retained in spread condition, as shown in FIG. 4, whereby the finger of the user may be inserted through the loop 29 at the same time as the same hand of the user is gripping the body 22 of the top. Such loop extending means takes the form of a forwardly extending flange 30' at the upper forward edge of the body of the holder, flange 30 being provided with a forwardly open U-shaped recess 31. Disposed about the upper edge of recess 31 is an upstanding U-shaped flange 32, which in the embodiment shown is made integral with flange 30. The upstanding flange 32 is provided with opposed shallow loop receiving grooves 34 which extend rearwardly from the forward edges of flange 32 for appreciable distances around such flange. The body of the top holder is preferably provided at its rear upward edge thereof with an upstanding somewhat forwardly inclined flange 35 whereby accidental removal of the top from the seat in both a forward and a rear direction relative thereto is prevented.

The string 26 is wound upon the aerial top as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 so as to leave the loop 29 at substantially the usual starting distance from the top. The loop 29 is then slipped over the flange 32, the top itself being then slid into the seat 19. A small additional turning of the body of the top in a cord-winding direction will serve to tension the coils 27 of the cord appropriately. Such cord is retained under tension by reason of the frictional engagement of the top with the holder. Thus, preferably the flange 20 is of such width as snugly to be received between the inner confronting faces of the body portions 24 of the top, such body portions being locally resiliently pressed apart slightly by the flange.

As above indicated, the same motion of the users arm which serves to introduce one finger of his hand through the cord loop 29 also brings the remainder of such hand into gripping engagement with the aerial top. After such engagement, at small upward deviation in the motion of the arm serves to remove the top from seat 19 and at the same time to free the string loop 39 from the flange 32. The top may then be released by the hand in a first, outwardly directed, cord-unwinding stroke thereof. After use, the top may again be mounted upon the top holder with little or no readjustment of the cord 26 being required after such mounting of the top, because of the described spacing between seat 19 and the loop retaining means 32.

In FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 there are illustrated two further embodiments of holder for an aerial top in accordance with the invention. The top holder proper of FIG. 5 is of substantially the same construction as that of FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive. Consequently parts in FIG. 5 which are the same as those of the first described embodiment are designated by the same reference characters, but with an added prime. The body of the top holder 10' of FIG. 5 is, in this instance, made of transparent or translucent material such as a molded plastic. The upper, seat-containing portion of the holder is removable from the remainder of the body thereof so as to permit the cavity within the holder to be opened from the top. Such parts of the body are in this instance telescopically connected by a frictionally fitting connection shown at 46. Within the upper portion of the cavity of the holder there is mounted an electrically insulating battery case 41 having an incandescent bulb 42 mounted in a socket on the lower end thereof. Batteries 43 (FIG. 6) are contained in case 41, the upper end of the case being provided with a switch means having a lower fixed contact 44 and an upper movable contact 45. Contact 45 is mounted upon a resilient electrically conducting leaf spring 46 one end of which is attached to a portion 47 of the battery case. The leaf spring in relaxed condition occupies the position shown in FIG. 5, wherein the upper contact 45 is spaced from the fixed lower contact 44. The outer end of leaf spring 46 is thrust downwardly by a plunger 49, preferably made of electrically insulating material, which extends upwardly through a hole 50 in the seat 19' on one side of the central flange 20. Plunger 49 is prevented from upward escape through the hole 50 by a washer 51 affixed thereto and lying beneath the seat 19'.

The contacts 44 and constitute a switch interposed in a circuit in which the batteries 43 are connected to the terminals of the light bulb 42 (FIG. 6). Preferably such circuit is also provided with a manually operated switch generally designated 36 which is provided with a flashlight type operating button 48 whereby the circuit may be selectively energized. It will be apparent from the above that when the top is in place in the seat 19' of the holder 10' the upper end of the plunger 49 is depressed to lie flush with the seat, thereby to thrust contact 45 against contact 44, and thus to illuminate the bulb 42 when the manual switch 36 is closed. When the top is removed from the holder, contacts 44 and 45 immediately open and the light bulb 42 is extinguished. Such light bulb, the batteries and the controlling switches therefor accordingly constitute a signalling means which indicates both when the top is mounted in the holder (lamp bulb 42 is lighted), and when the top is removed therefrom (lamp bulb 42 is extinguished).

The fragmentarily shown embodiment of top holder of FIG. 7 has the parts thereof which are the same as those of FIG. 5 designated by the same characters with an added prime where no prime is used for a character in FIG. 5, and designated by the same characters with an added double prime where a prime is used with the character in FIG. 5. The embodiment of FIG. 7 differs from that of FIG. 5 only in that the top operated switch in this instance is open, and the lamp bulb 42' thus extinguished, when the top is in the holder, and in that such switch is closed, and the lamp bulb 42' is energized, when the top is removed from the holder. Such lamp bulb, its energizing batteries, and the control switches therefor consequently afford indication both of the presence of the top in the holder and its absence therefrom.

In FIG. 7 the lower movable contact 56 is mounted on the outer end of a resilient electrically conducting leaf spring member 46' which is aflixed at its outer end to an upstanding portion 47 of the electrically insulating battery case 41. The upper contact 52 is fixedly mounted on an overarm .54 on a bracket 55 fixedly attached to the battery case. The leaf spring 46 when in relaxed condition holds the contact 56 in elevated position in engagement with the contact 52. Upon the mounting of the top in the seat 19", the rim of the body portion 24 thereof engages the upper end of the plunger 49', thereby depressing leaf spring 46' and breaking the contact between contacts 52 and 56. The circuit of the embodiment of FIG. 7 is substantially the same as that of FIG. 6; such circuit is also preferably provided with a series connected manually operated switch similar to switch 36 of FIGS. 5 and 6 whereby the circuit may be energized and deenergized as desired. The embodiments of top holder shown in FIGS 5, 6 and 7 are of advantage not only because of the attractiveness of the lighted transparent or translucent holder body, but because the signalling devices thereof permit the accurate timing of the length of time required to withdraw the top from the holder, as in a game to determine the fastest draw of the tops of the players from their top holders or holsters.

Although only a limited number of embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing specification, it is to be especially understood that various changes, such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and the like, as well as the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of the invention may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder for a toy operated by a string wound about a part of the toy, said string having an end portion extending from the toy and having means thereon adapted to be engaged and retained by the hand of the operator of the toy, said holder comprising supporting means for the toy providing an open topped seat wherein the toy may be retained in position exposed for immediate withdrawal by a hand of the operator, and means connected to the toy supporting means and disposed close thereto for positioning said end portion of the string for operative engagement by the same hand of the operator with which the toy is withdrawn from the seat of the holder.

2. A holder for a toy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said end portion of the string is provided with a finger embracing loop, and wherein the means for positioning said end portion of the string comprises a loop spread ing device open at one end to permit the withdrawal of the finger of the operator therefrom with the loop in the string.

3. A holder for a toy as claimed in claim 2, comprising means to support the holder upon the person of the user of the toy with the loop spreading device disposed forward of the toy holding seat, and wherein the loop spreading device is generally of U-shaped configuration, is disposed generally horizontally, and has its open end disposed as its forward end.

4. A holder for an aerial top having a body with two spaced similarly shaped end portions connected by a central spindle, and a top operating string wound about the spindle, said string having an end portion extending from the spindle and having means thereon adjacent its outer 6 free end adapted to be engaged and retained by the hand of the operator of the top, said holder comprising a top supporting body providing a generally part-cylindrical open-topped seat adapted to receive and supportingly to engage the lower surfaces of the end portions of the top thereof with the spindle positioned generally horizontal, the seat retaining the top in position exposed for immediate withdrawal by the hand of the operator, means to retain the top stably in said seat against removal therefrom otherwise than in a generally vertical direction, and means connected to the top supporting means and exposed close to the top retaining seat therein for positioning said end portion of the string for operative engagement by the same hand of the operator with which the toy is withdrawn from the seat of the holder.

5. A holder for an aerial top as claimed in claim 4, wherein the string has an outer end portion extending from the spindle of the top and having a finger embracing loop, and comprising a loop spreading device positioned forwardly of and close to the seat in the body, said loop spreading device being open at its forward end, the seat exposing the upper portion of the top so that it may be grasped by the palm and fingers of one hand of the operator while one of said fingers is being thrust into the loop held by the loop spreader.

6. A holder for a toy operated manually by a string Wound about a portion thereof, said holder comprising a toy supporting body having a seat therein from which the toy may be quickly removed in condition to be operated immediately, means connected to the body for positioning the string for operative engagement by the hand of the operator of the toy, and means on the body for indicating the instant at which the toy is removed from said seat.-

7. A holder for an aerial top as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means to retain the top stably in said seat against removal therefrom otherwise than in a generally vertical direction comprises an upstanding central flange disposed normal to the surface of the seat and adapted to enter the space between the end portions of the body of the top, whereby to prevent removal of the top from the seat in either direction axially thereof.

8. A holder for a toy as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means on the body for indicating the instant at which the toy is removed from said seat comprises means for signalling the presence ofthe toy in said seat.

9. A holder for a toy as claimed in claim 6, wherein the means on the body for indicating the instant at which the toy is removed from said seat comprises means for signalling the absence of the toy from the seat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,978 12/1938 Meline 224-2 2,705,316 3/1955 Harris 340280 2,708,747 5/1955 Moon 340280 3,136,551 6/1964 Ruderian 273-142 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Examiner. ARNOLD GRANT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER FOR A TOY OPERATED BY A STRING WOUND ABOUT A PART OF THE TOY, SAID STRING HAVING AN END PORTION EXTENDING FROM THE TOY AND HAVING MEANS THEREON ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED AND RETAINED BY THE HAND OF THE OPERATOR OF THE TOY, SAID HOLDER COMPRISING SUPPORTING MEANS FOR THE TOY PROVIDING AN OPEN TOPPED SEAT WHEREIN THE TOY MAY BE RETAINED IN POSITION EXPOSED FOR IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL BY A HAND OF THE OPERATOR, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO THE TOY SUPPORTING MEANS AND DISPOSED CLOSE THERETO FOR POSITIONING SAID END PORTION OF THE STRING FOR OPERA- 